Safety pillow to prevent a person from falling off a bed

ABSTRACT

The Snug Tuck Pillow includes a long tubular pillow, a removable fabric cover, a long elastic strap, with male and female Velcro, and a buckle to receive the elastic strap. The pillow is inserted into a fabric cover opening and closed using Velcro strips. The pillow is then placed on the side of the top mattress. The pillow is then secured by running the long elastic strap under the top mattress and through the buckle at the other end of the pillow. The elastic is then pulled tight until the two Velcro strips on the elastic strap meet and are married. This holds the pillow firmly in place.

[0001] A six-foot long, six inch diameter, tubular safety pillow, thepurpose of which is to keep a child from falling or rolling off a bedwhile sleeping. Safety pillow has a removable, washable fabric cover, abuckle, and an elastic strap for securing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0004] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates generally to a child securityrailing for small children at sleep in a bed. The present inventionprevents a child from falling or rolling off the bed while sleeping.

[0007] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0008] Keeping a child safe in bed while sleeping is important to allparents. After being in a safe, secure crib for about the first twoyears, babies develop no fear of falling or rolling off while theysleep. When it's time to move to an adult bed, this becomes a problem.Toddlers continue to sleep restlessly breaking free from tucked incovers and end up falling off the side of the bed.

[0009] When my son made the transition from the crib to the bed, he hadthis same problem. I didn't want to buy a child's bed that looked like aracecar, for example, because I didn't want my son sleeping so close tothe floor. These beds, although fun, also don't offer proper support forlittle backs and bodies. I wanted to put him into an adult bed to avoidthe extra costs of a specialty child's bed, and to keep him safe at thesame time. First, I put the bed against the wall to eliminate one sidefrom which he could fall. I also stacked pillows around him and besidethe bed to form a soft barrier, but they did not stay in place. He wasstill falling off the bed several times per night. There was also achance that he could suffocate.

[0010] I then started to roll up his comforter and tuck it in at the topand the foot of the bed. This worked better, but still wasn't secureenough to keep him from kicking it free. That's when the idea first cameto me for the Snug Tuck Pillow. The way to secure it came in the monthsthat followed.

[0011] When a child falls from their bed while sleeping, several thingshappen. They can sustain an injury, become disoriented, scared, cry,and/or disturb the sleeping parents. Children become uneasy about goingto bed and resist, if they are worried that they will fall out.

[0012] Some parents need or prefer to bring their babies into bed withthem. Most of the time, they place the baby in the middle of the bed sothere is less chance of them falling off the side. But, when mom and dadfall back asleep, there is the chance of the baby being injured,smothered or bumped by the sleeping parents.

[0013] When parents go to visit family or friends, they need to bring aportable crib, or something that they can lay the baby in to sleep.These cribs are heavy, time consuming to assemble, and require a greatdeal of space. They have also been found to be unsafe in some cases.

[0014] The security rails on bunk beds and child security beds areanother area that can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and evendangerous. Most often the railings on these security beds only protectthe top half of the bed, and the child can still fall from the lowerhalf. Most parents stack pillows beside them to make it more comfortableand safe for the child. If the child wakes up at night, they must callfor help in order to get out of bed and use the restroom. Hinges onthese railings can also be a source of injury.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] This is a simple invention to keep a child from rolling orfalling off of the bed while sleeping. It is not a restraint of anykind. Its main function is to keep toddlers who are moving from the cribto an unconfined bed, from rolling or falling off of the side of thebed. It helps a child feel more secure about going to bed, and they willresist much less when it's bedtime. They will feel safer, more secure,and comfortable with the Snug Tuck Pillow.

[0016] If the bed has been placed in the middle of the room, or toprotect the child from the cold, hard wall, the Snug Tuck Pillow may beplaced on both sides. It is placed outside the covers, and will aid inkeeping the covers tucked in on cold nights. The elastic strap isadjustable, so that it can also be placed under the covers, or ondifferent size beds and couches.

[0017] Other uses include eliminating the need of a portable crib whenthe family is traveling, or visiting friends and relatives. Simply strapthe Snug Tuck Pillow to a bed or couch and the baby is ready to liedown. It won't take up any extra room, and there is no hassle setting itup or taking it down.

[0018] When the parents choose to bring their baby or child into bedwith them, simply secure the pillow to the side of the bed and place thebaby or child next to it. The baby cannot fall off the side, and thereis less chance of the baby being squashed, smothered or bumped by thesleeping parents.

[0019] Railings can be difficult to operate and dangerous to children.Railings are hard, and children hit their arms and legs while tossingand turning while sleeping, and can become wedged in between the railingand the bed, possibly causing injury. The Snug Tuck Pillow solves theseproblems and more. The child is also not being restrained, and can getout of bed without any assistance to use the restroom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0020]FIG. 1 is a view of the pillow attached to the side of the topmattress.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows the pillow alone so that one can see all thecomponents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1,the pillow 1 is shown secured to the top mattress of a bed 3. The pillowincludes a pillow 1, a fitted removable fabric cover 1, a securing strap2, and a buckle to receive the securing strap. The pillow 1 may befabricated out of foam, cotton, a synthetic blend or any material thatis of a suitable firmness. The pillow cover is made from a durablewashable fabric with any suitable fastening method, such as, sewing,fusing, or cement.

[0023] Now with reference to FIG. 2, the securing strap 2 is attached toone end of the pillow cover using any suitable fastening method, suchas, sewing, fusing, or cement. The securing strap 2 can be made fromelastic, canvas, or any suitable strap material. The securing strap 2 ismade securable by placing Velcro strips 4&5 in the appropriate places sothey marry the strap to itself. This and the weight of the top mattresskeep this marriage of Velcro secure. A buckle 6, loop or any othersuitable receiver is attached to the other end of the pillow cover, toreceive the securing strap. The receiver 6 must allow the securing strapto be looped through and pulled tight. Thus, it must be of theappropriate strength to hold the securing strap tension. The securingstrap receiver is attached to the pillow cover with any suitablefastening method, such as, sewing, fusing, or cement. Each end of thepillow has a 45° angle taper 9.

[0024] The pillow is made securable by attaching a female Velcro strip 4at the mid-section of the securing strap 2, and a male Velcro strip 5 onthe same side at the end of the strap. The Velcro strips are attachedwith any suitable fastening method, such as, sewing, fusing, or cement.

[0025] The pillow cover 1 is closed using Velcro strips 8, buttons, orany other method of closing the cover flap allowing the pillow to beeasily removed from the cover. The Velcro strips 8 are attached with anysuitable fastening method, such as, sewing, fusing, or cement. Velcro isthe preferred choice because there is no choking hazard.

[0026] The pillow 1 is easily attached to the top mattress 3 by firstplacing the pillow along the side of the bed. The securing strap 2 isthen placed under the top mattress 3 and through the strap receiver 6 atthe other end of the pillow. The strap 2 is then pulled tight until themale and female 4&5 Velcro meet under the top mattress 3. The pillow 1is now secure. To remove the pillow 1, simply pull the Velcro strips 4&5apart to release the securing strap 2.

[0027] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those in the field that changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the invention in itsbroader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A pillow adapted for attachment to the side of a bedcomprising: A pillow having a top and a bottom; A cover for said pillow;A strap for securing said pillow; A buckle to receive said strap.
 2. Apillow adapted for attachment to the side of a bed comprising: A pillowcover made from a sturdy durable washable fabric; A pillow cover maderemovable by attaching fasteners along its seams.
 3. A pillow adaptedfor attachment to the side of a bed comprising: A securing strapattached to the bottom end of said pillow cover; A securing strapattached to said pillow cover with fasteners allowing it to be securedto itself; A receiver attached at the opposite end of the pillow coverallowing the said strap to be looped through and secured to itself.